Honour for the creator of racing legend Jim Clark

Ian Scott-Watson, the man who launched the career of racing great Jim Clark and put him on the track to glory, has finally got the recognition he deserves, having been made the recipient of the 2018 Jim Clark Memorial Award.

Association of Scottish Motoring Writers president John Murdoch presents the Jim Clark Memorial Award to Ian Scott-Watson, the man who started the legendary racer's career (Image: John Fife)

Sign up to FREE email alerts from Daily Record - daily

When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they’ll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. OurPrivacy Noticeexplains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time.

THE winner of the 2018 Jim Clark Memorial Award is Ian Scott-Watson, the man who first recognised his talent and set Jim Clark off on the road to glory.

Scott-Watson, 88, received his award from the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers at a ceremony at Mar Hall Hotel near Glasgow. The award, sponsored by Jaguar Land Rover, marks the outstanding contribution of a Scot or Scots for services to motoring.

Presenting him with his award, Jim Clark biographer and author Eric Dymock said: “You really should have been one of the first to get this award. It’s 62 years on June 16 that you, Ian Scott-Watson, put Jim Clark on track for the first time.

"Without you, he might never have been persuaded to be a racing driver. Without you, he might have got no further than driving Billy Potts’ Austin-Healey on the Scottish Rally in 1955.

Ian Scott-Watson at an event in the Berwickshire town of Duns marking the 50th anniversary of Jim Clark's death earlier this year (Image: Lloyd Smith Photography & Film)

“This award rewards the outstanding contribution of services to motoring but your contribution was far more. You created a Scottish sporting legend. It wasn’t easy and it didn’t come cheap but you did it and, at times, you did it alone.”

Scott-Watson, who still lives in his Borders home, said he was incredibly proud and “very chuffed” to get the award. He said: “It is wonderful for someone to recognise what I did over the years.”

An amateur racing driver himself in those days, Scott-Watson took the young Jim Clark to his first race at Crimond, near Aberdeen, well away from the Borders where Jim’s family frowned on his desire to race when he had responsibilities on the family farm near Chirnside, Berwickshire.

Scott-Watson drove the car first, a DKW Sonderklasse, then Clark as reserve driver took the wheel and posted a time three seconds faster than Scott-Watson.

It was the beginning of a journey that would take Clark to the very top of the motor racing world – two F1 world championships, a record series of grand prix victories, a first and second at Indianapolis, the revival of the Border Reivers and more.

Read More

Related Articles

Read More

Related Articles

Scott-Watson recalled: “I had no idea what I had let myself in for – or what I had let Jimmy in for.

“I may not have been a judge of what was required to make a grand prix driver, but I could tell from the way Jimmy drove both on the road and on the track that he was exceptionally quick. On the road, he was amazing, perfect to sit beside.

“His driving was smooth and his anticipation marvellous. You could feel him ease off the throttle and then spot a car he had already seen approach on a distant side road.”

Yet Clark was famously indecisive. Scott-Watson said: “It was difficult to know why he did not feel confident about his own ability. He chewed his fingers even then.

“He lacked confidence, yet when he got on the track it was totally forgotten. He gave it everything and drove superbly.”

Scott-Watson nurtured the young Clark’s career and paid for many of the early cars he drove in. Yet when his talent was finally recognised by Lotus, the man who had started him off and paid for his early successes was sidelined as the “professionals” took over.

Jim Clark celebrates after winning British Grand Prix at Brands Hatch in July 1964 (Image: Mirrorpix)

Scott-Watson has since admitted it was a “blow” but he has never been bitter and Jim Clark clearly recognised the role his old friend had played when he remembered him in his will.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the death of Jim Clark at Hockehnheim in Germany – a death that galvanised the motor racing world into actively making motorsport safer for drivers.

ASMW president John Murdoch said: “It gives us great honour to recognise the role Ian Scott-Watson played in the history of motor racing in Scotland, the UK and the world.

“It is our privilege to applaud a man who played such a pivotal role in motor racing history. No one deserves this award more than Ian.”